{"id":11018,"date":"2014-07-13T01:25:27","date_gmt":"2014-07-13T01:25:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/?p=11018"},"modified":"2014-07-13T12:01:03","modified_gmt":"2014-07-13T12:01:03","slug":"the-five-reasons-i-wouldnt-go-back","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/?p=11018","title":{"rendered":"The Five Reasons I Wouldn’t Go Back!"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The 5 reasons I wouldn’t go back!!!!<\/p>\n

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1.\u00a0 My back doesn’t hurt anymore!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Almost everything in my bag, is at least half the weight of my former full frame DSLR system.\u00a0 Generally almost every body and lens takes up half the space!\u00a0 So far, I see no reason to believe that my Fuji bodies and lenses are not just as well made, and rugged as the bigger DSLR system.\u00a0 Frankly my Fujinon lenses “feel” more rugged than many of the plastic lenses of this modern day!\u00a0 My old (3 to 4 decades old), Nikkors have that same old world sweet smoothness!\u00a0 I still use them on the X-T1 with an adapter and get fantastic results!\u00a0 The wide angles are not of much use because of the APS-C sensors 1.5 factor, but the long glass and midrange zooms get a lot more interesting! \u00a0The Nikkor manual focus Micro lenses are insane!<\/p>\n

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2.\u00a0 I simply love the operational design of the Fuji X System cameras! \u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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I grew up with a “real shutter speed knob” and a “real aperture ring”!\u00a0 Mechanical controls, \u00a0(Now I know these mechanical controls make electronic changes, but they operate “mechanically!!!”) \u00a0I like the ISO knob on the XT-1 (also a “mechanical” knob), and actually like that it locks!\u00a0 Some have complained that it could be faster without a lock, and while that is certainly true, I like getting and keeping the ISO I set in the first place!\u00a0 I fired my D700 the other day and was shocked at how loud and vibration prone it was, I then picked up the XT-1 and fired them side by side.\u00a0 The difference was remarkable, the XT-I was quieter than a Leica, and with no mirror slap vibration (no mirror!).<\/p>\n

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3.\u00a0 Cameras are for making images, and I’m taking the best in my 45 year career!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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This one is purely subjective, but I can tell you with a completely straight face that my work has immeasurably improved, both in technical and aesthetic terms!!!!\u00a0 I think the biggest reason is that I’m like a kid again in respect to my excitement and desire to go out and make images!!!\u00a0 A big part of that is covered in point # 4!!!\u00a0 It probably helps that I’m retired!!!!!<\/p>\n

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4.\u00a0 Features I didn’t have in a DSLR!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Working with the Fuji X System and in particular, the XT-1, several features have made me a big time believer in mirror-less;<\/p>\n

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A.\u00a0 While the EVF of the XT-1 is not quiet like looking through a D4, in some ways it’s better!\u00a0 It’s brighter in low light, ( it’s a video image and it can brighten up so you can see better!), and it shows all your menu items settings actual affects when you half press the shutter release, yes you read that right, you see what the resulting image will look like!\u00a0 If that were not enough, immediately after you make the image, it appears in the viewfinder exactly as it will appear later on your computer screen!\u00a0 You can turn it off if you like, but I love it!\u00a0 One more thing for manual shooters you can select a histogram to be live in the viewfinder as you make exposure adjustments!<\/p>\n

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And this is the “BIG” one!\u00a0 Focus peaking has made manual focusing easier and more accurate than any other system I’ve ever used!\u00a0 Now you can enjoy using many of the hundreds, maybe thousands, of older LEGACY manual focus lenses!!!!\u00a0 It has breathed new life into Nikkor Micro lenses, moderate zooms, and especially, long glass!!\u00a0 Imagine having a 600mm, f 3.5, that focuses close!!!\u00a0 I’ve got it, and it didn’t cost $12,000. \u00a0(the old 400mm f 3.5 IF-ED manual focus Nikkor lens)<\/p>\n

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B.\u00a0 You can set a menu item that allows you to see “real time” the depth of field as you stop down the aperture ring!!!!\u00a0 No more depth-of-field preview buttons and impossibly dark viewfinders!\u00a0 You would be surprised what a big deal this is after you use it!<\/p>\n

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C.\u00a0 When you dial in compensation, ( yes Virginia, it’s a metal knob with click stops!!! (conveniently right next to your shooting thumb!!), you can see the affect it has on exposure, just how the image will look.\u00a0 I shoot Aperture Priority and tailor exposure with the compensation dial, it works great.\u00a0 By-the-way, the Fuji’s are like every other camera I’ve used in years, for my taste .3 or .7 minus compensation is needed to get to what I think is “affective exposure”, who knows what correct is!!!!???? \u00a0The exposure comp dial is = or – 3 stops!<\/p>\n

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D.\u00a0 My favorite feature is film type bracketing.\u00a0 The Fuji’s allow you to pick three film simulations and then every time you make a shot, it processes three separate files in those film types!!!\u00a0 Choices are;\u00a0 PROVIA (standard color), ASTIA (soft, great skin tones, and rich color), VELVIA (high contrast palette of richly saturated colors), PRO NEG HIGH (great for outdoor portraits, slightly higher contrast), PRO NEG STANDARD ( great subtle skin tones, perfect for studio portraits under controlled lighting), MONOCHROME, (standard, full range, beautiful Black & Whites),\u00a0 MONOCHROME YELLOW FILTER, (slightly higher contrast), MONOCHROME RED FILTER (higher contrast-great for spectacular landscape with blue skies and clouds), MONOCHROME GREEN FILTER ( good for outdoor portraits), SEPIA (sepia toned monochrome images.) \u00a0 Most of the time I have mine set to PROVIA, VELVIA, AND MONOCHROME.\u00a0 I do also use, ASTIA and MONOCHOME RED FILTER, pretty often!\u00a0 90% of the time the Monochromes need almost no post!\u00a0 They look spectacular!<\/p>\n

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5.\u00a0 Even cutting my camera bag weight in half, I haven’t give up the image quality I crave!<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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I’ve selected some images, some of my favorites from this past year, all with various Fuji X cameras and Fuji XF lenses and a few with Nikkor manual focus adapted glass: ( I will give the technical data!)<\/p>\n

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Fuji X100s \u00a0 ISO 1600 \u00a01\/12th of a second handheld \u00a0 In camera Monochroime!<\/p>\n

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Old Service Station Canonsburg Village \u00a0 Fuji X-E1 \u00a0180-55 \u00a0ISO 200<\/p>\n

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Colored Pencils \u00a0 – \u00a0Fuji X-E1 \u00a060mm Micro lens ISO 800<\/p>\n

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Licence plates on wood wall \u00a0 – \u00a0Fuji X-E1 \u00a0 18-55 \u00a0 \u00a0ISO 1600<\/p>\n

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Model T in Sprague, WA \u00a0Fuji X-T1 \u00a0 \u00a055-200 \u00a0ISO 400<\/p>\n

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Fold in the earth Palouse WA \u00a0Fuji X-T1 \u00a0Nikon 300mm f 4.5 IF-ED \u00a0 \u00a0 ISO 800<\/p>\n

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Any downside??\u00a0 Yes, if Fuji is reading this, (and I’m told they do!!!), here is my wish list:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

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1.\u00a0 Firmware update to give 9, 7, & 5 stops of exposure bracketing. (for us HDR guys) You can add in improved focusing speed with the 60mm Macro!<\/p>\n

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2.\u00a0 A 100mm Macro lens that goes 1:1 !!!!????\u00a0 I know I’m pushing my luck, but a 150mm would be even better!\u00a0 The current 60mm is spectacularly sharp, but won’t go 1:1 and focuses painfully slow compared to all other FX lenses.\u00a0 It does play nice with Diopters though!<\/p>\n

I sure hope rumors of a fast 90mm are true!<\/p>\n

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3.\u00a0 Almost as good as a longer Macro lens would be a set of three Automatic Extension tubes, this is very doable!!!!\u00a0 Those and the 56 f 1.2 would be a dream come true!!! \u00a0Some third party ones exist but they are very poorly finished out!<\/p>\n

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4.\u00a0 Make sure the soon to come 120-400 is a constant aperture f 4 or no slower than f 4.5, \u00a0PLEASE no variable aperture!!!!\u00a0 This is the lens that will really complete the Fuji XF line, don’t release it until it is drop dead spectacular!!!!!!\u00a0 Lots of folks think this is a lens you can’t make as fantastic as your others, I’m betting they’re wrong!!!\u00a0 By-the-way, I would be happy to test the prototype for you in Yellowstone this fall!!!!\u00a0 Hint, hint!!!<\/p>\n

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5.\u00a0 Ask the battery guys what can be done to beef up the battery life!!??\u00a0 While on that subject, thank you so much for not making third party batteries incompatible, others have done this, and it’s not playing nice!\u00a0 At least good reserves are purchasable reasonably, and they have given me good service!\u00a0 Since they are small, it’s easy to carry a half dozen extras!<\/p>\n

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6.\u00a0 While I’m bragging on you, thanks for handling the few complaints you’ve gotten the right way!\u00a0 You stepped up to the plate, admitted mistakes, and made repairs or adjustments, quickly. Three cheers for treating the customer like you really care, which I believe you actually do!!!!!!<\/p>\n

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7.\u00a0 Re-release the 55-200 in a slightly heavier build quality with a tripod collar, don’t touch the optics, they’re great right now!!!!\u00a0 Not holding my breath on this one, but Canon did that with their hot selling 75-300 and it has been very well received! \u00a0People are willing to pay a premium for more structural strength, I would be too!<\/p>\n

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8.\u00a0 Please don’t feel the need to go full frame, the size and extraordinary quality of the X Trans Sensor brought you to the dance, my advice is keep dancing with her!!!\u00a0 She is, after all, beautiful!!<\/p>\n

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Blessings,<\/p>\n

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the pilgrim<\/p>\n

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BE SURE TO CHECK OUT THE 2015 HIS LIGHT WORKSHOP SCHEDULE UNDER BLOGS: \u00a0HIS LIGHT WORKSHOPS!!!<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

  The 5 reasons I wouldn’t go back!!!!   1.\u00a0 My back doesn’t hurt anymore!   Almost everything in my bag, is at least half the weight of my former full frame DSLR system.\u00a0 Generally almost every body and lens takes up half the space!\u00a0 So far, I see no reason to believe that my […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11018","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-chronicles","category-learning"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11018","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11018"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11018\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11027,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11018\/revisions\/11027"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11018"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11018"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/billfortney.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11018"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}